Finance & Capital Management

SYSCO Corporation, the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in North America, today announced diluted earnings per share of $0.88 on sales of $21.8 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, marking the 25th year of uninterrupted sales and earnings increases.

Fleming Companies Inc. today reported a 59.7 percent increase in second quarter 2001 net earnings to $22.4 million, or $0.46 per share, after adjustments to exclude strategic plan charges and one-time items, compared to$14.0 million, or $0.35 per share, in the second quarter of 2000. Second quarter adjusted operating earnings of $66.1 million increased 20.5 percent from $54.9 million in the prior year.

Jack H. Brown, chairman, president and CEO of Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. announced financial results for the 13-week third quarter and 39 weeks year to date period ended on June 24, 2001. Sales for the third quarter ended June 24, 2001 increased 5.4% to $639.9 million compared to $607.3 million for the 13 weeks ended June 25, 2000.

The viaLink Company today announced that Unified Western Grocers, Inc., the largest retailer-owned grocery wholesaler in the Western United States, has selected viaLink's syncLink service to synchronize product, price and promotion data with its trading partners.

Unilever announced today that the sale of the Bestfoods Baking Company to George Weston Limited for $1.765 billion in cash has been completed.

Ingles Markets Inc. today announced increased sales and earnings for the third quarter ended June 30, 2001. Net sales rose 3.3% to $484.7 million for the June 2001 quarter compared with $469.4 million for the June 2000 quarter, while comparable store sales increased 2.2% for the same period.

International Multifoods Corp. today said that it expects the Federal Trade Commission's review of the proposed General Mills-Pillsbury merger and Multifoods' pending acquisition of the Pillsbury desserts and specialty products businesses to extend to the end of September.

Fleming today announced the company has been selected by L&L Food Centers to serve its 10 Lansing, Michigan area stores and Rochester Hills location. The supply arrangement is for all grocery, frozen, dairy, and general merchandise products. L&L F